"Zaria? What are you doing here?" Zella asked as she came down the stairs. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, just fleeing for my life," Zaria said chuckling. "I'm borrowing your Guard for a few minutes."
Zella laughed. "Surely Muin's not that bad."
Just then the phone started to ring. "Don't say a word that he's here," Zeph said protectively as he handed her the phone.
Zella picked up the phone.. "Hello? Oh hey Muin." Zella's face turned serious. "What's wrong?"
Zaria edged off the couch slowly. What would his next move be?
"He what? You think what?" Zella glared at Zaria. "He takes off at a moment's notice? Not reliable at all? No, no. No Muiny, no," Zella said over and over. "No. No. No, no. No. Muin I'm telling you, Zaria doesn't have someone else."
Zaria's mouth just dropped open.
"No. No, no. No, he still loves you. Maybe he just needed to get away? No I'm sure he doesn't think your fat." Zella glared even more at Zaria. "He doesn't even help around the house anymore?"
Zaria literally sank into the couch, the power of Zella's glare almost burning him. Eh, figured she'd take Muin's side.
"No, I'm sure there's a reason," Zella reasoned with Muin. "I think maybe he went out for a few minutes. Okay?" She looked at Zaria suspiciously. "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll be back any second with a great reason for being gone. It's okay, call me back in a few minutes if he doesn't return. Alright? Okay, goodbye." Zella hung up the phone. "What did you do? She's crying her eyes out thinking you love someone else."
"I just got away for a few minutes, I had to," Zaria said as he handed Zeph the Sensitive Daddy book. "Can you just take this and hide it somewhere?"
Zeph shook his head. "If she can't find it, she'll get the fully extended edition."
"Damn." Zaria felt his forehead. "She's gone nuts, I can't believe she is thinking I'm cheating on her. What can I say, I can't say I came over here with the book."
"Calm down, it's easy. Run downtown and buy her or your future kid something," Zeph said in a simplistic fashion. "You took off because it was a surprise."
"Something to show I appreciate her?" Zaria grinned, "Zeph, you're a genius."
"Guard Zeph," Zeph corrected him again. "Yeah, I can't disagree there."
Zaria rushed out the door while Zella frowned at Zeph.
"What? Trust me, the guy needed to hide," Zeph answered her disapproving expression. "She was going nuts."
"Yes, well now she's crying. You're lucky you came up with that." Zella crossed her arms, displeased with his actions. "Otherwise I would have to tell her he was seeing someone. You."
"Ha ha." Zeph laughed bitterly. "Trust me, I didn't want to deal with him, but what choice did I have? Muin on a rampage is hard to deal with."
"Mmm, true." Zella gave him a half quirky smile. She sashayed over by Zeph on the couch and sat down. "He'll probably get her something really nice, then they'll go home and..." She sighed dreamily. "Make each other feel better."
"What?" Zeph watched Zella suspiciously.
"I miss that," Zella said as he rubbed her shoulders up and down. "Someone to hold me and touch me." She glanced over at Zeph's leg.
"What?" Zeph started to think about her words. Oh damn that's right! Pregnancy makes hormones go crazy. Being around me all the time... He caught her off kilter smile toward him. "Yeah, what? Oh, no, oooh…" He stuttered. "You know, I uh, this is temporary. Don't worry about never feeling...umm...touch."
"Maybe one day I'll find the one." Zella scooted over closer to Zeph. Zeph in turn, scooted further away. "Do you think so?" Her breathing was more heavy that usual, even seductive. "Zephyr?"
"Uh." Zeph stood up. "Whatever's going through you right now, it's not permanent. That's hormones, your pregnant and changing. You become turned on at times, inexplicably."
Zella touched his pant leg softly. "Are you sure it's hormones?" She let go and cracked up laughing. "You should have seen the look on your face."
What? Zeph's mouth dropped as he realized the truth. "You were playing with me? Zellaponia Cattral, I'm gonna get you for that."
Zella's eyes widened and she headed up the stairs. Zeph ran close behind her, no way was she getting away with that. "Hey, you can't do that, you're supposed to be protecting me."
"Yeah which is exactly what I'll tell the law enforcement when they drop by," Zeph yelled as he pursued her to her room.
It didn't take long before Zeph had her cornered? The punishment? A never ending tickle.
Zella laughed as Zeph tickled her tummy, "Zeph, stop it, I can't take it!"
"Then say stop it Zephyr Zuffel Zinfan Smilliat in the name of your really great Uncle," Zeph demanded, not giving into her petty pleas.
"Stop it." Zella tried to get out. "Zephuc-Vich-Zuffel-quit! I am pregnant, remember?"
Oh yeah. Zeph stopped, forgetting that important fact. Too much tickling could lead to a disastrous position with her bladder.
Zella rubbed her belly. "I am having a little girl." She smiled in a better-than-you fashion.
Zeph put his hand on his chin. He couldn't just topple her onto the bed and he couldn't try to force her up. He didn't know what to do this time, she won. He looked down at Zella's belly as she rubbed it. "You're getting bigger."
Zella looked down at her tummy. "A little bit."
"When's it going to start to kick?" Zeph asked curiously.
"When it's ready." Zella shrugged her shoulders and gave a soft chuckle.
"What?" Zeph asked, curious about her reaction to his words.
"I didn't think you'd be so interested in my baby all the time," Zella said.
"Well, I'm protecting you both," Zeph reminded her.
"Yes, but she won't have suitors as soon as she leaves the womb," Zella teased him.
"You never know," Zeph said. "Your pheromones went nuts when you were smaller." He looked at her knowingly. "I should have known then and there you were pure lineage. No one's scent should have done that these days."
"Yes, but it did stop," Zella reminded him. "I still have my pills for the next ten decades. It's a good thing you authorized it for so long."
"Heck yeah," Zeph agreed. "When I lost track of you guys, there's no way I could approve of a prescription anymore. Smartest thing I ever did. Without that you'd be…umm…" He stopped talking.
"I don't understand what went wrong that night," Zella said, dwelling on the past again. Damn, he didn't mean to make her feel bad again.
"Doesn't matter," Zeph quickly replied, "nothing matters except…" He looked at his wristwatch. "That it's bedtime and I'm tired. Nighty night."
Zella watched Zeph quickly leave to his own room. …nighty night.
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Zeph played on Zella's old piano. The time was drawing closer and closer to when his little girl was supposed to be born. I still don't know what to do. He slowly started to play their national anthem. Very slowly...
I can't just come out and tell her, I know that. I don't have any backup and if the King suspects anything I'm gone. Zeph continued to press the keys with no spirit. I can't just be a typical Guard when the kid is born though. He sighed as he stared at the keys on the old piano. I don't want to do it, but it's regulation. I'm supposed to help her find a compatible mate that will never leave her or the baby but I don't want to. He hit the keys hard on the last part. Why don't I want to? I should want to see her settled down, not a husbandless mother. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Maybe I just don't want it raised by some other guy. He finally came to his conclusion. It's mine, I've been here for it ever since. Guard or not, it's mine and I should be able to stay.
How could he? The most he could ever stay is maybe another year. If he stayed longer, everyone would figure out that something was up. There was no such thing as the same client for life. I can't come out and say it. I mean, what could I say? 'Yeah, you know, I was that guy'? I go prowling around as a Guard so others wouldn't guess? That's not me.
He knew he was running out of options and time. She's going to be born soon. He played the piano faster. I wonder what she'll look like? I bet she'll end up having Zella's personality. Hopefully, it'll be scary if she has mine, he said chuckling. She'll probably have the cutest little ringed tail anyone's ever seen. That's when his smile faded. Hiding underneath silver spray. What a time to be born in. How long have I even hid beneath this silver spray myself? He glanced at his tail curiously. "No one will fight back." Ha, correction. No one knows how to fight back. He groaned. What a world for a little girl to grow up in.
"Zeph?" Zella's voice startled him from behind.
Zeph turned to look at her. Her expression was off, there was something in her eyes. Confusion. "What is it?"
Zella held the remote in her hand and sat down on the couch as she turned on the TV. "I was working when I heard something on the radio. I don't like it."
Zeph left the piano and sat down with her. He listened intently to the station.
"And so on this mighty day King Sheward and the Evolved King Gunner have now signed a peace treaty!" The announcer on the TV smiled brightly. "The purest lineage of originals will remain within their own kingdom. In the Kingdom, only the closest to pure will remain. As for the rest of us, we shall be given our new kingdom just called the Mixed Kingdom!" He chuckled. "Original, sure, but it works for me! Details on what will and won't be allowed in this treaty are very sketchy."
Zella turned off the TV "Am I right in thinking that maybe-"
"It's an obvious treaty that will backfire and destroy the last lineage left?" Zeph finished for her in a growling voice. "Originals are so carefree, they won't even see it coming." He stood up and began to pace. "Why would King Sheward sign that? He knows they're up to no good."
"Distraction maybe?" Zella offered. "Or pressure?"
"Probably a combo without any fries and a drink," Zeph groaned. "Crazy. Oh well, it'll be fine."
"It'll be fine?" Zella frowned. "They are going to gather the last of the purest lineages. How? Based on what? Tails? What if it's by tails? What if they'll only let those skin tails in?"
"King Sheward is not as dumb as you think," Zeph disagreed. "He won't let everyone get butchered. Trust me, he knows what he's doing."
"Yeah sure, trust him." Zella growled bitterly. "I will never trust him."
Zeph didn't comment. He knew Zella had a feeling that it was the king that was responsible for the one night stand, but he couldn't agree to that. Not without being considered a traitor.
"Backstabbing, lying, conniving…" Zella muttered.
"Ease up mommy to be," Zeph chuckled trying to get her to relax. "You know that's not good for you."
Zella groaned. "Yes, yes I know. I just detest the king with my whole heart."
"Yeah, he's not my favorite but the evolved will always top the chart," Zeph said. "There's nothing worse in this world than them." He went back over to the piano and began to play. "I'll never let them win for good."
Zella strolled over and sat next to him by the piano softly humming the national anthem he started to play.
Zeph smiled at her as he continued to play. He closed his eyes briefly remembering happier times. Their anthem was always light but playful. He hit the last note of the song and left his hands on the keys. "The National Anthem." He sighed. "Soon that is going to be the next thing to go."
"You don't think we'll sing our national anthem?" Zella had to ask. "Well, we don't have our colorful tails…or our hair…"
"Yeah, so if you're hiding why would you sing such an obvious song," Zeph said bitterly. "I remember when I was younger, we sang it all the time. Makes you wonder how many kids even know it anymore." He looked at the piano sadly. "Ever have fantasies about getting out of here?"
Zella chuckled. "Getting out of here. You know, I have actually thought about that. A nicer world, one at peace that had inhibitors." She looked down at the piano. "It wouldn't be the same though, this is home." She stared out the window nearby them. "The trees, the water, the whimsical smell in the air. No planet would ever be like this." She wrapped her shawl tighter. "This is home."
Zeph looked at the piano again. "Maybe you're right. Eh, it'd be really hard to live without inhibitors anyhow. We'd be like wild animals, unable to think." He looked outside the window. "There's no planet that would be like this, but there'd also be no evolved. That's where you and Carressela should be, someplace safe."
Zella's cheeks tinted pink. "If we ever got it back though, you couldn't ever want such a wonderful world. So much life, so many crazy wonders in this world."
Zeph smiled at the piano. "Yeah, it is a zany world." He played on the piano again.
Zella joined his playing on her side of the piano. They banged the keys twice on the very last note.
"Enjoy it while we still can," Zella said, smiling tenderly at him.
Zeph looked back at the piano. "Yeah, while we can."
Zella became quiet and looked away before she got up and left. "Dinner will be ready soon."
Zeph continued to look at the piano as he watched her start to leave. How can I ever just leave them, especially now? He started to play softly again. Zella and Carressela will both have perfect lineage. They'll be easy targets. How can I just find someone to take care of them and leave them?
Zeph took a few more minutes at the piano before he entered the kitchen and sat down at the table. Time to get it over with. "Undercooked or overcooked?"
"Hopefully neither." Zella dished up his serving and placed it in front of him, not even looking at him.
Zeph stared at the plate. "It looks edible."
Zella didn't reply as she scooped up her own food. She sat down at the table quietly.
Zeph looked over at her. "Is something wrong?"
"No," she answered blandly as she bit into her food.
Zeph looked back at the living room then to where Zella was sitting. "Are you feeling okay? You were fine in the other room now you're just…" He stuck his hands out to her. "There."
"It's nothing." Zella took another bite of food.
Zeph crossed his arms. "Your hormones have never fluctuated that dang fast, so what's wrong?"
"Will you just leave me be?" Zella moaned.
Zeph put his hands up in defense. "Or I could be wrong, sorry?" He looked at the food on his plate. "Looks good?" Zella didn't answer. "Doesn't then? What's wrong? Did you get bad news at the hospital or something? Did something happen there?"
"Nothing bad," Zella spilled, "I'm not having a little girl."
"Boy?" Zeph said it a little too excited.
"Both." Zella moved her food around her plate. "I'm having a twin boy and girl, like Muin."
"T…twins?" Zeph's expression burst out with pride. "Holy heck, we're having twins?"
Zella gave him a weird look. Why was he so dang excited? "We're?"
"You're-you're." Zeph quickly corrected himself. "You're having twins? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" He gestured out to her. "That's great news."
"Yeah, I'm having twins. One boy and one girl, in a freaking one night stand." Zella's brow furrowed. "It's obvious the guy had pure lineage. Chances of twins without pure lineage is about a third." She stopped eating and felt water works threaten to release from her eyes. "Iri and Muin's wrong, the guy obviously knows, there's no doubt in my mind."
I should have known that, I'm supposed to know everything about females. Zeph cleared his throat, feeling out of his league. In all his training, he should have been able to remember such a minor fact. How did Zella remember that when he couldn't? "Are you positive?"
"Yes, it was hiding last time when they checked in," Zella said softly.
"Well, what about names then? Carressela and what?" Zeph had to ask.
"Well, before I knew it was a girl, Xiam and Muin recommended some." Zella began eating again. "Oogi of course you knew. Igella, Lenvopovic, and Jimbia. What's with that look?"
"No way, there's no way it's going to be Igella or Jimbovich. You can't give him a name like that." Zeph was beside himself. "Come on, the kid is going to get picked on for the rest of time if you do that. Trust me, you need a yr at the end."
Zella shrugged her shoulders. "I think they're good names, except maybe Jimbovich. Igoma instead of Igella might be nice. Or Enigovich? I don't mind those so much. What do you want, Jimbavich?"
Zeph tapped his foot on the ground. "Jimbavich?" This can't be happenin'. My kid is going to be called Jimbavich? I don't think so. "Isn't there anything else you like?"
"I don't know," Zella confessed. "I like Tigyr too, but it might not fit."
"Are you kidding? It'll be a perfect fit." Zeph held up his hands. "Carress, Tigyr. They go together, don't they?"
Zella shrugged her shoulders. "Jimba, Carress. Carress, Jimba." She stuck out her tongue. "That doesn't sound so good," She poked at her food. "Enig. Carress. Carress. Enig." She took another bite. "That doesn't sound so bad."
"That doesn't sound so good either," Zeph huffed his opinion.
Zella groaned, "Zeph, I said you could recommend names. Anyone can recommend names, all right? I never said I would obey any names."
Zeph looked down at his plate and poked at his own food. "Jimba or Enig is stupid." He grumbled. "It won't fit him."
"Who says something like Tigyr will?" Zella rolled her eyes. "I haven't knocked any names out, but stop it," she said as she stood up. Right before leaving, she left some parting words. "Like Muin said, they aren't your jurisdiction."
Zeph picked at his food again. Not my jurisdiction. He bitterly ate his food. To her he may be going overboard, but he had every right to choose too. They were his. He stood up and went to the living room where Zella was watching TV "What are your highest options then?"
Zella groaned. "I don't know. Jimbovich or Enigovich I guess."
"You're not even considering Tigyr?" Zeph frowned, "all because of what Xiam said?"
Zella stared at the TV "I don't know if Tigyr will fit and I don't think I like it."
"How come?" Zeph continued.
"Why won't you drop it?" Zella groaned. "They aren't yours, they are mine. After they are born you're out of here, I'm the one who will be mothering them."
Oh great, I knew it was coming. Zeph ignored it for now. "You didn't answer the question though."
"I don't want to name it Tigyr because…it will fit." Zella finally admitted it. "His father was not a pushover, and he even deceived me into thinking he was a Guard. He knew the game, he knew how to prowl, be adventurous and dangerous. I don't want to be reminded of my mistake every time I call his name."
Zeph could see the shiny specks of tears she was trying to hold back in her eyes. He looked down at the ground, he couldn't win this one. "You can do better than Jimba or Enig." He finally spoke. "Come up with a list of a hundred names and choose something you want then."
Zella slowly looked back over at him. "You'll stop pursuing the name then?"
"Sure, I didn't come up with it to make you upset," Zeph said softly. "Heck, I wasn't even thinking about the situation, I just…"
"Just what?" Zella pressed. "Zeph?"
Zeph took a deep breath. Great, he was stuck. "It's...if I ever had a kid, that's probably what I would name it."
Zella looked at him in surprise. "If you had one?"
"Most likely I never will," Zeph added with haste. "I mean heck, I'll probably be a Guard until the day I die, but even I'm not immune to thoughts of family or anything."
Zella slowly began to grin. "I think I understand." She smiled brightly and gave a light chuckle. "Tigyr. Carress. Carress. Tigyr. You're right, it sounds like a great pairing."
"Huh?" Zeph looked over at Zella. "But I thought-"
"Oh, every time I call his name, I won't think about that anymore." Zella looked over at Zeph. "I'll remember the Guard who helped pull me through instead." She looked down at her hands. "I couldn't imagine having to go through this all alone. You've always been there every step of the way." She rubbed her tummy affectionately. "Having a name you picked will really be helpful when times get rough and you're not here anymore."
A pang of his conscience hit him again, but he tried to ignore it. "Well, I'm here now so don't fret." He tried to laugh to sound happy but felt even lonelier inside. Having a name he picked out, helpful for the rough times? He couldn't help but picture a gloomy future he was not a part of.
To tell or not to tell, his time was coming closer...